Page 364 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 325

and supplication to the Almighty, but sleep
overpowered him. He therefore resorted to
this drink, one of whose known effects is to

produce extreme watchfulness ; and finding
that it completely banished his former drowsi­

ness, he named it “ coffee,” that is, a stimu­
lating liquor. The authority and example of
this learned and pious Moslem, as well as the

known fact, that many of the most eminent
expounders of the law were equally favour­

able to its general use, had due weight with
the Khuwarijites; and in consequence, the
use of coffee became universal. They further

assert, in defence of the practice, that not the
slightest passage prohibitory of this favourite

beverage can be traced in the Koran, or any
.
*
other orthodox Mohammedan work
One remarkable peculiarity in the opinions
of the Khuwarijites consists in the jealousy
with which they disclaim connexion with any

of the numerous other sects into which the
disciples of the Prophet have been split. “ We
approximate,” says a native writer, indignant

* Notwithstanding this, I must observe that the Imam, and
some other strict Moslems, from religious scruples, entirely abstain
from this beverage.